Dexter Blackstock

Playing career

Southampton Born in Oxford, Oxfordshire, Blackstock subsequently made his debut for Forest against Barnsley on 4 April 2009 at Oakwell, scoring his first goal, the winner, for the club against Bristol City in a dramatic 3–2 win at the City Ground on 11 April 2009.

On 22 July 2009, Blackstock signed a 4-year contract with Nottingham Forest for a seven figure fee. He scored his first goal of the season when he notched in a first round Football League Cup win over Bradford City on 12 August 2009. He scored his first goal of the 2010–11 season in a 1–1 draw against newly promoted side Leeds United.

On 20 November 2010 Blackstock suffered serious knee ligament damage after scoring the second goal in Forest's 2–0 win at Cardiff City and was subsequently sidelined for 12 months. He made his comeback in a friendly against York City on 14 November 2011 and scored along with Paul Anderson, another long term injured player.

In August 2011, there was reported interest from Blackpool in Blackstock.

He scored both goals, his first ones back after being injured, in a 2–1 win against Birmingham City on 25 February 2012. Blackstock signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract with Forest on 24 January 2013.

Leeds United loan On 24 October 2013, Blackstock signed for Leeds United on a three-month loan until 25 January 2014. He was handed the number 9 shirt and made his Leeds debut as a second-half substitute against Huddersfield Town on 26 October, scoring with his first touch for a debut goal.

Blackstock's loan at Leeds was cut short when he returned to Nottingham on 10 December 2013 due to a knee injury.

Return from loan Blackstock missed the remainder of the 2013–14 season and the beginning of the 2014–15 season with the knee injury. He made his first return to action since suffering the injury on 2 September 2014, playing 45 minutes in a game for Forest's under-21 side. Blackstock eventually made his return to competitive action as a substitute in the 74th minute of a League Cup tie against Spurs on 24 September 2014.

On 1 September 2016, Forest and Blackstock mutually agreed to terminate his contract at the club.

Rotherham United Following his release from Forest, Blackstock signed a 3-year deal with Rotherham United on 5 September 2016. Blackstock scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 loss against Norwich City on 15 October 2016.

On 12 July 2017 he agreed to leave Rotherham United by mutual consent.

International career On 16 August 2007, Blackstock was called up to Stuart Pearce's first England under-21 squad as full-time manager. In the match against Montenegro on 7 September, he came on as a substitute on 90 minutes and headed the ball down for Andrew Surman to score the final goal in a 3–0 victory.

Blackstock made his senior international appearance for Antigua and Barbuda in a 4–0 friendly defeat to Trinidad & Tobago on 29 February 2012. He scored his first goal on 12 October 2012 in a 2014 World Cup qualifier against United States.

International goals Scores and results list Antigua and Barbuda's goal tally first. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 12 October 2012 Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound 1–1 1–2 2014 World Cup qualification 2. 5 June 2016 Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Bayamón 1–1 1–2 2017 Caribbean Cup qualification

Outside interests In 2009, Blackstock opened a football school for children aged from six to fourteen.

Blackstock owns a property portfolio consisting of 50 properties. In 2016, tenants in a buy to let home owned by Blackstock spoke out to the media about the dangerous condition the home was in, despite complaining several times to Blackstock and Student Living, the property management company he had hired. Student Living claimed that working with Blackstock had been 'a nightmare'. In October 2019, Blackstock admitted 12 licensing offences and was fined £24,000 after inspectors found a number of his properties in disrepair. The following month, the property manager was fined £7,500.

In February 2021, Blackstock was ordered to pay back £8,000 in housing benefits that he was paid by tenants for two unlicenced properties.

Blackstock has business interests in the pharmaceutical industry. He is the CEO of MediConnect and is a shareholder in online pharmacy UK Meds.

Career statistics